Congress Launches Nationwide Protest Against Gyanesh Kumar, Demands His Resignation and Removal; Water Cannons Used in Patna and Chandigarh, Leaders Detained in Guwahati
New Delhi | September 25, 2026 | Shabu Zaidi
The Congress launched nationwide protests on Friday, September 25, against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The party questioned the functioning of the Election Commission and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and removal from office.
Congress workers staged protests and marches in several places, including Delhi, Patna, Chandigarh, Guwahati, Jammu and Kashmir, Lucknow, Dehradun and Kolkata. In several cities, protesters attempted to march towards Election Commission offices.
In Patna, police used water cannons during the protest. Congress workers were demanding the CEC’s resignation and attempted to move forward, but police tried to stop them.
Protests also intensified in Chandigarh, where Punjab Congress workers marched towards the Election Commission office in Sector 17. Police used water cannons to disperse the protesters. Earlier, Chandigarh Youth Congress workers had also burned an effigy of Gyanesh Kumar.
In Guwahati, Assam Congress president and MP Gaurav Gogoi, along with several other Congress leaders, were detained by police. Congress workers also raised slogans and staged protests in several other states.
The Congress has alleged that serious questions have been raised over transparency and fairness in the electoral process and the revision of voter lists. The Election Commission, however, has maintained that differences of opinion during internal deliberations are part of the normal process and has rejected the opposition’s allegations.
Meanwhile, demands by opposition parties for action against Gyanesh Kumar have intensified the political confrontation over the functioning of the Election Commission. Tensions were reported between police and protesters at several locations during the demonstrations.If you want, I can also make this into a shorter, sharper English TV-news style report with a more prominent headline and breaking-news format.